Chapter 5 - THE ALLIANCE DISSOLVES
The night was falling fast over the New York harbor. A bitter wind blew off the Atlantic, whipping the gray waves against the rusted hulls of cargo ships. In a secluded, unlit warehouse at Pier 42, Gianni Romano sat tied to a heavy steel chair, sweating profusely despite the freezing cold.
Standing in front of him was Aleandro, his suit coat removed, his white shirt sleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing dark tattoos that told the story of his ascension in the Moretti family.
"Aleandro! Please! This is a mistake!" Gianni pleaded, his voice echoing in the cavernous steel warehouse. "My sister was humiliated! Our family honor was dragged through the mud because of a beggar girl!"
"Your sister made a public bet and lost to a child," Aleandro said calmly, lighting a cigarette. The tip glowed orange in the darkness. "And instead of taking the loss with dignity, you reached out to Julian Vance. You brought Chicago trash into my city."
"Vance offered us leverage!" Gianni yelled, desperation breaking his composure. "He told us who she really is! She’s Sophia Sterling! The heiress to the Sterling Logistics empire in Illinois! She disappeared five years ago after accused of stealing millions from her family’s firm! Vance isn't just looking for a lover, Aleandro—he’s looking for the Sterling trust fund keys that she took with her!"
Aleandro froze, the cigarette halfway to his lips. He slowly turned his gaze back to Gianni.
"Sterling?" Aleandro asked softly.
"Yes!" Gianni stammered, thinking he had gained an advantage. "She isn't a poor kitchen maid! She’s a runaway corporate heiress on the run from federal fraud charges! Vance has the arrest warrants ready to drop the moment he finds her! If you hide her, you’re harboring a federal fugitive! You’ll destroy the Moretti empire for a lie!"
Aleandro walked up to Gianni, staring down at him with icy detachment. He didn't look shocked; he looked calculated.
"You think I care about federal warrants, Gianni?" Aleandro whispered. "You brought a ruthless predator to my doorstep to target a woman and a three-year-old child. You broke the pact of the Five Families."
Aleandro nodded to Marco, who stepped out from the shadows holding a heavy phone.
"Call your father, Gianni," Aleandro commanded. "Tell him that the Romano-Moretti alliance is officially dead. Tell him he has twelve hours to surrender all dock operations in South Brooklyn to me, or I will hand you over to the federal authorities for conspiracy and grand extortion."
Gianni’s face went completely white. "My father will never agree to that!"
"He will," Aleandro said, turning his back on him and walking toward the exit. "Because unlike you, your father knows that I don't make empty bets."
As Aleandro stepped out into the crisp sea air, his phone vibrated in his pocket. It was an encrypted message from the safe house security team.
May you like
ALERT: Security perimeter breached at North Gate. Unidentified vehicles approaching.
Aleandro’s heart stopped. "Sophia," he muttered, dropping his cigarette into the dark water, and ran for his car.
